How are bats affected by wind turbines?
Dead bats are found beneath wind turbines all over the world. It’s estimated that tens to hundreds of thousands die at wind turbines each year in North America alone.
Unfortunately, it’s not yet clear why this is happening. It’s possible that wind turbines interfere with seasonal migration and mating patterns in some species of bats. More than three quarters of the bat fatalities at wind turbines are from species known as “tree bats,” which tend to migrate long distances and roost in trees. These bats migrate and mate primarily during late summer and early autumn, which is also when the vast majority of bat fatalities at wind turbines occur. It’s also possible that bats mistake slow or stopped turbine blades for trees.
Learn more at the USGS North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) website.
Related Content
Where do bats live?
Why is it important to know the locations of wind turbines?
Why are bats important?
Are bats dangerous?
What do bats eat?
Are bats blind?
What should I do if I find dead or dying bats, or if I observe bats with signs of White-nose Syndrome?
Assessing the risks posed by SARS-CoV-2 in and via North American bats—Decision framing and rapid risk assessment
The novel β-coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, may pose a threat to North American bat populations if bats are exposed to the virus through interaction with humans, if the virus can subsequently infect bats and be transmitted among them, and if the virus causes morbidity or mortality in bats. Further, if SARS-CoV-2 became established in bat populations, it...
Runge, Michael C.; Campbell Grant, Evan H.; Coleman, Jeremy T. H.; Reichard, Jonathan D.; Gibbs, Samantha E. J.; Cryan, Paul M.; Olival, Kevin J.; Walsh, Daniel P.; Blehert, David S.; Hopkins, M. Camille; Sleeman, Jonathan M.
U.S. Geological Survey science in support of the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)
Bats make up one-fifth of all mammalian species worldwide and are found on every continent except Antarctica. They contribute to overall ecosystem health by suppressing pest insects and pollinating plants and spreading seeds. Eight North American bat species are listed as federally endangered or threatened, and more than one-half are of current...
Reichert, Brian E.; Soileau, Suzanna C.
A Methodology to Assess the National and Regional Impacts of U.S. Wind Energy Development on Birds and Bats
This scientific investigations report describes an effort by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) that used research, monitoring data, and modeling to develop a methodology to assess both the current and future population-level consequences of wind energy development on species of birds and bats that are present in the United States during any part...
Diffendorfer, James E.; Beston, J.A.; Merrill, Matthew D.; Stanton, J.C.; Corum, M.D.; Loss, S.R.; Thogmartin, W.E.; Johnson, D.H.; Erickson, R.A.; Heist, K.W.
A guide to processing bat acoustic data for the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)
The North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) aims to improve the state of conservation science for all species of bats shared by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. To accomplish this goal, NABat offers guidance and standardized protocols for acoustic monitoring of bats. In this document, “A Guide to Processing Bat Acoustic Data for the...
Reichert, Brian E.; Lausen, Cori; Loeb, Susan; Weller, Ted; Allen, Ryan; Britzke, Eric; Hohoff, Tara; Siemers, Jeremy; Burkholder, Braden; Herzog, Carl; Verant, Michelle
U.S. Geological Survey—Energy and wildlife research annual report for 2017
IntroductionTerrestrial and aquatic ecosystems provide valuable services to humans and are a source of clean water, energy, raw materials, and productive soils. The Nation’s food supply is more secure because of wildlife. For example, native pollinators enhance agricultural crops, and insect-eating bats provide pest control services worth billions...
Khalil, Mona
Preliminary methodology to assess the national and regional impact of U.S. wind energy development on birds and bats
The U.S. Geological Survey has developed a methodology to assess the impacts of wind energy development on wildlife; it is a probabilistic, quantitative assessment methodology that can communicate to decision makers and the public the magnitude of these effects on species populations. The methodology is currently applicable to birds and bats,...
Diffendorfer, James E.; Beston, Julie A.; Merrill, Matthew D.; Stanton, J.C.; Corum, M.D.; Loss, Scott R.; Thogmartin, Wayne E.; Johnson, Douglas H.; Erickson, Richard A.; Heist, Kevin W.
Wind energy and wildlife research at the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
The United States has embarked on a goal to increase electricity generation from clean, renewable sources by 2012. Towards this end, wind energy is emerging as a widely distributed form of renewable energy throughout the country. The national goal is for energy from wind to supply 20 percent of the country's electricity by 2030. As with many land...
Phillips, Susan L.
Monitoring trends in bat populations of the United States and territories: Problems and prospects
Bats are ecologically and economically important mammals. The life histories of bats (particularly their low reproductive rates and the need for some species to gather in large aggregations at limited numbers of roosting sites) make their populations vulnerable to declines. Many of the species of bats in the United States (U.S.) and territories...
O'Shea, T.J.; Bogan, M. A.
Mapping the Nation's Wind Turbines
There are more than 57,000 wind turbines across the United States, and a new tool allows you to get up close and personal with each one!
U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Department of Energy Release Online Public Dataset and Viewer of U.S. Wind Turbine Locations and Characteristics
Today, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in partnership with DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the American Wind Energy Association, released the United States Wind Turbine Database (USWTDB) and the USWTDB Viewer to access this new public dataset.
A Deadly Double Punch: Together, Turbines and Disease Jeopardize Endangered Bats
Advancing Wind Energy and Avoiding Wildlife Conflicts
Our Nation works to advance renewable energy and to avoid conflicts with and conserve wildlife.
Wind Turbine or Tree? Certain Bats Might Not Know
Certain bats may be approaching wind turbines after mistaking them for trees, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
PubTalk 09/2019 — Bats in the West
Title: Bats in the West: Discoveries, Questions, and Future Research
By Gabriel A. Reyes, USGS Biologist
- Learn about bat ecology, diversity, and the role they play in our ecosystem.
- See how scientists are using a variety of methods including capture, acoustic monitoring, and tracking, to learn more about local bat species.
- Find out how
Pallid bat with transmitter
A Pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus) is outfitted with a radio transmitter to help lead us to its roost. The transmitter is attached with a temporary adhesive that will wear off within around 2 weeks, about as long as the battery life of the transmitter lasts. By following the bat USGS researchers will be able to learn what habitat types are important for this species,
...
Western red bat release
Like most wild animals, bats often don't appreciate being handled for research purposes. However when holding bats after handling and examination, they often appreciate the warmth and need a little push to go. This Western red bat (Lasiurus blossevillii) was captured during USGS WERC research to learn more about the ecology, distribution, and movement patterns of
...
A Bat Interacting with a Wind Turbine
Surveillance video from a temperature-imaging camera shows a bat interacting with a wind turbine. Video credit: Paul Cryan, USGS
Spectrograph of an acoustic bat recording
Spectrograph of an acoustic recording from the western small-footed myotis (Myotis ciliolabrum) noting shape and frequency of call with photo of the western small-footed myotis and cartoon representation of this bat echolocating below.
Wind Turbines and Rainbow
Tall wind turbines in a semi-arid shrubland with a bright rainbow
Scanning Electron Microscopy of Pallas’ Mastiff Bat
Scanning Electron Microscopy of Pallas’ Mastiff Bat, Molossus molossus
Bat emergence, Paul Cryan, USGS photo.
Bats emerging from the trees in the early evening sky.
A bat that was killed by a wind turbine laying in the grass.
A bat that was killed by a wind turbine laying in the grass.